Comparison

BeeReader vs ThusRead

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

BeeReader

This app transforms your Apple Watch into a portable e-reader. Import EPUB, PDF, or TXT files from your iPhone and read them directly on your wrist, even offline. Enjoy a distraction-free reading experience with customizable themes and text sizes.

Highlights
  • Import EPUB, PDF, TXT files
  • Read on Apple Watch
  • Offline reading capability
  • Digital Crown scrolling
  • Hands-free auto-scroll
  • Customizable themes and text size
  • On-device AI PDF cleanup
Features
Read full description

BeeReader turns your Apple Watch into a real book reader. Import a .txt, EPUB, or PDF on your iPhone and BeeReader sends it straight to your wrist — no account, no cloud, no data collection. Everything is processed on your own devices. WHY BEEREADER • Read anywhere — on a walk, in line, in bed — without reaching for your phone. • Works fully offline. Once a book is on your watch, you never need a connection. • Distraction-free: just your text, the way reading should be. FEATURES • Import TXT, EPUB, and PDF from Files, iCloud Drive, or any app via the Share sheet. • Digital Crown scrolling, with your reading position saved automatically. • Hands-free auto-scroll at a steady, adjustable reading pace. • Read-aloud on the watch itself — a built-in voice reads your book through your Bluetooth headphones while the page follows along. • A "continue reading" watch-face complication — tap to jump right back into your book. • Four easy-on-the-eyes themes (black, paper, sepia, and Night for a dark room) and adjustable text size. • Automatic on-device cleanup for messy PDFs — fixes broken line breaks and strips page headers and footers. • An on-phone bookshelf re-sends any book to a new Apple Watch in a tap. PRIVACY FIRST BeeReader has no account and collects no data. Your books never leave your devices. The first few books are free. BeeReader Pro is a one-time purchase for unlimited imports — no subscription, ever.

About

ThusRead

Features
Read full description

ThusRead is a lightweight EPUB reader designed for Apple Watch. Import EPUB books on your iPhone and send them to Apple Watch, so you can read whenever you have a moment. Your reading progress is saved automatically, letting you continue near where you left off. Key features: • Import EPUB books from iPhone • Send books to Apple Watch for offline reading • Turn pages with the Digital Crown, a swipe, or a tap • Adjust text size, margins, line spacing, and dark theme • Show your current book and reading progress on the watch face • Save your reading position automatically • No account required

Screenshots

BeeReader4 screens
ThusRead3 screens

Verdict

The call

BeeReader and ThusRead are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. BeeReader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and ThusRead sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
BeeReader versus ThusRead: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBeeReaderThusRead
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (5 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings5 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 daysEvery 3 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, Apple WatchiPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size40 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYingtao Guo灿炎 林

In-app purchases

1 purchases

BeeReader

One-time1
  • Bee Reader Pro$3.99
1 purchases

ThusRead

One-time1
  • ThusRead Pro Lifetime$3.99

Questions

Is BeeReader free?
BeeReader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ThusRead free?
ThusRead is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do BeeReader or ThusRead have ads?
Neither BeeReader nor ThusRead shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BeeReader or ThusRead?
BeeReader ships an update every 3 days, and ThusRead every 3 days. Most recently, BeeReader was updated on November 5, 2026 and ThusRead on November 6, 2026.

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